Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 6, 1936. F, CONRAD Er Al.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed July 8, 1927 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTRNEY i Oct. 6, 1936. F. CONRAD ET AL REFRIGRATING APPARATUS original Filed July a, 1927 2 sheets-Sheet 2 ,n W wm mrd ma M IJAII am rv Fm AT'lTORN EY Patented ct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-*lolz REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original application July 8, 1927, Serial No. 204,401. Divided and this application March 27, 1930, Serial No. 439,408

9 Claims.

Our invention relates to refrigerators and more particularly to refrigerators of the compression type land of small capacity, such as are suitable for household use, and it has for an object to provide apparatus of the character designated which. shall operate more eiectively,

. quietly, efficiently and reliably than apparatus of this character heretofore constructed.4

Our invention has for a further object to provide a refrigerator in which all of the working or moving parts are entirely enclosed in a hermetically sealed casing, whereby leakage of the refrigerant fluid, as well as lubricant, is prevented.

These and other objects, which will be made apparent upon the further' description of our invention, may be attained by the employment of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a View, in sectional elevation, showing one form of refrigerator arranged in accordance with our invention; Y

Fig.' 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line II-II of Fig. 3, of the compression unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line III- IIL of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are partial, sectional views taken on the lines IV-Iil and 'V--V of Fig. 3, respectively;

Fig. 6 is a View, in elevation, of that portion ofthe compressor unit shown in Fig. 5.

Our invention provides a form of refrigerating `machine in which all the moving or working parts 35 are totally enclosed, but which, at the same time,

permits the compressor and motor unit, as well as the condenser, to beso located, with respect to the refrigerator box structure, that they arev entirely hidden from -view, so that the appearance 40 of the entire refrigerating unit may always be of the highest order, -We accomplish the foregoing byprviding a hermetically sealed compressor-motor "unit in a bottom or lower compartmentof the refrigerator box structure, the unit being so arranged that the heat generated by ,both the compressor and the motor is radiated through the Walls of the enclosing casing. In addition, the condenser is preferably located upon the rear wall of the box and is arranged to have a natural draft circulation of air thereover for absorbing the heat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor. In this way, the motorcompressor unit, as well as the condenser unit, -may be properly cooled without requiring any exteral fan, or separate motor for driving the fan.,

At the same time, the 'motor-compressor unit,- as well as the condenser, are so located that they are not'exposed to view and, consequently, do not detract from the appearance of the refrigerator `box structure.

This application relates particularly to the structure of the motor-compressor unit utilized in our improved refrigerating apparatusand is a division of our`copending application, Serial No. 204,401, led July 8, 1927 for Refrigerators. 10

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of our invention, we show in Fig. 1 a refrigerator box structure I0, embodying front and rear walls II and I2. Located in the upper portion of the refrigerator box struc- 15 ture is 'a cooling or food storage compartment I3, and located in the lower portion is a machinery compartment M. The cooling compartment I3 is provided with an access door I 5 in the usual manner, while the machinery compartment M, 2@ is preferably provided in all of its walls-y except the rear wall, with suitable Ventilating openings or louvers I6. The rear wall of the machinery compartment may be left entirely open except for the box supporting structure Il and the machin- 25 ery supporting structure I8.'

Located within the machinery compartment Iii is a compressor-motor unit I9 which is supported upon a suitable bracket 2 0 carried by the machinery supporting structure I8. Also supported 30 upon the machinery supporting structure I8 and located upon the rear wall I2 of the box is a condenser 2l, while disposed within the cooling compartment I3 is the cooling element or evaporator 22. VThe evaporator 22 is supported upon 35 a removable portion 23, forming a part of the rear wall and carried by the supporting structure I8, the opening in the rear wall being suicient to permit the evaporator 22 to be withdrawn therethrough. Fromthe. foregoing description, it will 40 be apparent that the motor-compressor unit I9, condenser 2l and the evaporator 22, together with the machinery supporting structure I8, may be entirely removed from` the refrigerator box structure as a single unit. This is especially ad- 45' Vantageous in servicing the machine as the enl tire machinery maybe readily replaced although its different elements are located in relatively dii-ferent portions of the box structure. Such an arrangement does not require that 'the motor- 50 compressor unit, condenser and evaporator be arranged in contiguous relation, such as is customary in refrigerating`4 machines wherein the motor-compressor unit, as well 'as the condenser,

am .mcated upon the top of the box structure 55 f with'the cooling element depending therefrom and extending into the cooling compartment. In other words, the arrangement disclosed herein 'provides every advantage from a servicing standpoint while permitting the various elements of the refrigerating system to be located in those portions of the refrigerator box structure which are best suited from' all considerations.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, for a detailed description of the motorcompressor unit I9. As shown in Fig. 2, We provvide a casing 3| consisting of a central cylinder or sleeve member 32 equipped at its respective ends with suitable closures 33 and 34. The closures 33 and 34 are retained against the cylinder 32 by means of flange rings 35 and tension members or bolts 36 spaced circumferentially about the cylinder 32V and so arranged as to hold both the closures 33 and 34 in fluid-tight engagement with the central cylinder 32. Suitable gaskets or solderingstrips 31 may be provided between the enclosures and the cylinder for insuring a hermetic seal.

Provided withinthe cylinder 32 is a partition Wall or spider 38 dividing the casing 3| into, what may be termed, a motor-chamber 38 and a. com\ pressor-chamber 4|. Located Within the motor chamber 39 is a motor 48 having its stationary element 4| supported directly in the cylinder 32 and its rotating element 42 connected by means of an annular cup-shaped member 43 to a drive shaft 44. The latter is retained in suitable bearings 45 and 46 provided in a longitudinally extending sleeve 41 formed upon the partition wall 38.

Located within the compressor chamber 4| is a compressor 5| which is of the reciprocating, oscillating cylinder type. The compressor 5| comprises essentially a crank pin 52 provided'on one end of the drive shaft 44. Operatively connected to the crank pin 52 is a piston rod 53 `rigidly secured to a piston 54. Associated with the piston 54 is a cylinder 55 arranged to oscillate upon a journal 56 located in a face plate 51. The face plate 51 forms with ajportion of the partition 38 a suction chamber 58 having a refrigerant vapor inlet 59, shown in Fig. 3. Suitable inlet ports 6| are provided in the face plate 51, as well as the cylinder 55, for permitting the admission of refrigerant vapor to the latter, while suitable discharge ports 62 are located oppositely in the cylinder. Suitable discharge valves 63 of the spring-nap type are associated with the discharge ports 62.

The cylinder 55 is retained in. bearing engagement with the face plate 51 by means4 of a yoke 64. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the yoke 64 is composed of suitable lugs 65 provided on the partition Wall 38, and a bridge plate 66 secured to the lugs'by means of screws or bolts 61. The cylinder 55, as Well as the bridge plate 66, are provided with cooperative journal portions 68 which together with the journal 56 maintain the axis of oscillation of the cylinder. A spring 69 is interposed between the bridge plate 66 and the cylinder 55 for retaining the latter at au times` in bearing engagement with the face plate 51.

Referring again to Figs. 2 and 3, the lower portion of the partition wall 38 is provided with drainage .holes 1| for permitting the passage of lubricant, while located in the upper portion of the partition Wall 38 is a suitable opening 12 for permitting th passage of refrigerant vapor.

Provided in the upper portion of the casing is a compressed refrigerant vapor outlet 1|).

Secured to the compressor end of the drive shaft 44 is a. pinion 13 Which meshes with a gear 14 journaled upon a pin 15 xed in the partition Wall 38, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. The pinion 13 and the gear 14 are utilized for effecting a splash system of lubrication for the working parts of the compressor and the motor, a level of lubricant being normally maintained in the casing-such as indicated at 16 in Fig. 3. Provided in the compressor chamber 4| and disposed about the pinion and gear 13 and 14, as Well as the compressor, is a baffle 11 which defines with the casing 3| a lubricant splash cham- The lower portion 19- of the baffle 11 is preferably perforated so that the foreign particles are prevented from reaching the gear 14. As shown in Fig. 3, the axis of the compressor is inclined at a slight angle below the horizontal but above the level of the lubricant, the pinion 13 and the gear 14 being utilized to splash the lubricant upon the Working parts of the compressor. The gear 14 is preferably constructed of some material, such as fiber, which will insure silent operation.' The pinion 13 is provided with a. counter-weighted portion 19 so arranged as to compensate for the unbalance created by rotation of the crank pin.

Lubricant is conveyed to the bearings 45 and 46 by means of spiral grooves 8| provided in the drive shaft 44, the lubricant discharged from the bearing 45 being returned to the lubricant chamber 18 by a passage 82 located in the sleeve 41. Lubricant is conveyed to the cylinder 55 by means of passages 83 and 84 provided in the connecting rod 53 and the piston '54, respectively. Suitable supporting feet 85 are provided on the cylinder 32 for supporting the entire unit lupon the bracket 28.

As shown in Fig. l, a conduit ||5 is provided for conveying refrigerant vapor from the outlet 18 of the motor-pump unit I9 to the intake manifold 8| of the condenser. A conduit |6 is provided for conveying the condensed refrigerant to the inlet of the expansion valve |03, while the refrigerant vapor withdrawn from the expansion coil is conveyed by conduit I I1 to the inlet 5S of the motor-pump unit I9.

From the foregoing description, the operation of I our refrigerator will be apparent. The refrigerator is rst charged with a suitable refrigerant, such ,as methylv chloride, and a suitable lubricant, such as mineral oil. Upon the vmotor 48 being connected with a source of electrical energy, the compressor 5I is actuated and a reduction in pressure in the expansion coil |86 is effected, resulting in vaporization of the liquid refrigerant passing therethrough and in the absorption of heat from the evaporator 22, as well as from the interior of the cooling chamber I3. The refrigerant vapor generated in the expansion coil |86 is withdrawn through the conduit ||1 tothe inlet chamber 58 of the motor pump unit I9. The refrigerant vapor enters lthe cylinder 55 of the compressor when the intake.v

ary of the refrigerant vapor to the walls of the casing while the motor heat is radiated directly through the walls of the casing.

Compressed refrigerant vapor leaves the casing 3| through the outlet 10 and enters the intake manifold 9| of the condenser. The ref frigerant vapor passes through the condenser 2l, and sufficient heat is absorbed'to eiect condensation, the condensate draining into the lower portion of the condenser and leaving it through the outlet manifold 92. Upon accumulation of a predetermined pressure in the condenser, the expansion valve |03 opens to permit the condensed refrigerant to enter the expan.-

working parts and is afterwards returned to the lower portion of the casing. Suitable ducts 8l are provided for insuring positive lubrication of the bearings 45 and 46, while the ducts 83 and 84 insure thorough lubrication of the compressor cylinder. We have found a lubricating system of the splash type to be extremely reliable and effective for thoroughly lubricating the compression mechanism of refrigerators, especially of y those types in which the compression mechanism is totally enclosed.

From the foregoing, it will be aparent that we have invented a novel form of refrigeratng apparatus which embodies no external moving or working parts. The entire apparatus is hermetically sealed soethat the possibility of leakage of either oil or refrigerant is eliminated.. At the same time, the various essential elements of the refrigerating system are located in those portions of the refrigerator box structure which are most desirable from not only an operating but a sanitary vand commercial standpoint, and at the same time the arrangement is such that the entire refrigerating apparatus may be readi ly removed from the refrigerator box structure to permit ready servicing.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth `in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a compression refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a. compressor and a motor for driving the compressor, of a fluid-tight casing for enclosing the motor and the compressor comprising a central cylinder, endA caps bearing against the cylinder, flange rings bearing against the end caps, and a plurality of tie bolts spaced circumferentially about the cylinder and engag ing the flange rings for clamping the end caps and the cylinder together.

2. In a compression refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a compressor and a motor for driving the compressor, of a fluid-tight casing for enclosing the motor and the compressor comprising a central cylinder having an intermediate partition for dividing'said cylinder into a compressor chamber and a motor chamber, a removable end cap provided at one end of the cylinder removablev end caps, and tension members engag' ing the flange rings for clamping the end caps and the cylinder together.

3. In a compression refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a fluid-tight casing, partition means dividing the casing into a motor chamber and a, compressor chamber, a motor disposed 'in the motor chamber, a compressor disposed in the compressor chamber, a drive shaft for connecting the motor to the compressor, a baille disposed `Nithin the compressor chamber about the compressor and the drive shaft and defining with the casing a lubricant chamber, and gear means rotated by the drive shaft for transmitting lubricant to the working parts of the compressor and the motor.

4. In a compression refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a fluid-tight casing, partition means dividing the casing into a motor chamber `ariel '-afcompressor chamber, a motor disposed within the motor chamber, a compressor disposed v within the compressor chamber, a shaft connecting the motor to the compressor, a plurality of of lubricant, a horizontal drive shaft disposed within the housing above the level ofthe lubricant, a vcompressor of the oscillating cylinder type operatively connected to the drive shaft, said compressorhaving its axis of oscillation disposed below the shaft but above the level of the lubricant, and means driven by the drive shaft and extending into the body of lubricant for trans- 'mitting lubricant to the working parts of 'the compressor.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a housing, a drive shaft in the housing, a crank pin provided on the drive shaft, a compressor of the reciprocating type operatively connected to the crank pin, and a gear for supplying lubricant to the working parts of thecornpressor provided on the drive shaft in the vicinity of the crank pin, said gear having a counterweighted portion arranged to compensate for the unbalance created by the rotation of the crank pin.

7. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a longitudinally disposed, cylindrical, fluid tight casing, a motor disposed in one end of the casing, a compressor disposed in the other end of the casing, said compressor being arranged to discharge compressed refrigerant into the interior of the casing, a refrigerant intake conduit connecting with the compressor, a horizontal drive shaft connecting the motor to the compressor, a baiile structure disposed about Ythe shaft and the compressor and defining with the casing a lubricating chamber, and means driven by the shaft and located in the lubricant chamber for maintaining a splash system of lubrication for the working parts of the compressor and the `motor.

Cil

8. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combinaposed substantially cylindrical fluid-tight casing enclosing the motor and compressor, partition means within the casing and dening with the casing a compartment for the motor and a compartment for the compressor, a substantially horizontal drive shaft connecting the motor with the compressor, said compressor compartment providing a reservoir for a body of lubricant,

means' provided on the drive shaft in the compressor compartment for splashing lubricant from the reservoir to the working parts of the compressor, means for conveying a portion of the splashed lubricant along the drive shaft in a direction from the compressor to the outer end of the motor, whereby to lubricate the motor bearings, a'nd means passing through the partition and extending from the end of the motor to the lubril cant reservoir in the compressor compartment for returning lubricant from the outer motor bearing to the lubricant reservoir.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a motor, a compressor, a longitudinally disposed substantially cylindrical fluid-tight cas ing enclosing the motor and compressor, partition means within the casing and defining with the casing a compartment for the motor and a compartment for the compressor, a substantially horizontal drive shaft connecting the motor with the compressor, said partition means having formedtherewith a bearing support for the drive shaft, said compressor compartment providing a reservoir for a body of lubricant, means on the ldrive shaft in the compressor compartment for splashing lubricant lfrom the reservoir to the working parts of the compressor, means for conveying a portion of the splashed lubricant along the drive shaft in a direction from the compressor to the outer end of the motor whereby to 1ubricate the motor bearings, and means passing through the partition and extending from the end of the motor to the lubricant reservoir in the compressor compartment for returning lubricant from the outer motor bearing to the lubricant reservoir.

FRANK CONRAD.

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. 

